On the contrary, my clutchfan brethern. My initial answer to this thread would have been that Obama was never scared of the GOP. Obama is nieve. He thought that he could bring government back to how the Framers wanted it. Bill created by both the House and Senate then the President signs. Obama could influence here and there, but it was always intended by the Framers that there be some separation and Congree (Article I) was meant to be more important than the President. Obama was just trying to go back to the Constitution and it was nieve for him to do some. HOWEVER, there was an incredible interview by CNN with Rahm Emmanuel just a few days ago. Rahm explained the reason why Obama did not present his own bill at the beginning and allow the long, arduous mess. Rahm said that they had learned from the Clinton attempt and without the Clinton attempt, the Obama attempt would not have been succesful. You see, Rahm was in the Clinton Administration for the Healthcare bill and he saw its failure. He said, to correct that, the Obama administration allowed Congress to duke it out first. Then, when things were stalling, the Obama administration would come in with the President's proposal which was meant to put new energy into the effort. Then Obama's bipartisan meeting was to give new energy, then Obama's campaign style rallies and tear-jerker stories came in at the end (he would bring up people affected by troubled healthcare). The whole energy infusion strategy was all planned by Rahm who knew how he failed earlier in the Clinton years. This is what Rahm said in the CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer. It convinced me, Obama was neither scared or unaware, he had a strategy all along. It explains some confusing behavior that you wouldn't have expected from any president. The 15 appointments is the first instance of skirting bi-partisanship.
He's doing it Reagan style, just like you conservatives like it. Oh wait... you're dissing Reagan? That's not nice!!
